How to choose the perfect Indian Restaurant

0
Indian dishes
Indian dishes

Ordering at an Indian restaurant doesn’t have to be intimidating – you just need to know what to look for. You also need to work out what kind of Indian food you want also. This point is key. Decide whether you want to north Indian flavors which are usually quite rich in spices and flavours and includes popular Indian dishes like butter chicken or more of a Bengal type of cuisine. The most straightforward way to get great Indian food as a beginner is to choose good restaurants. This can be difficult if you are a traveller to a new area.

The Indian Food scene in the UK

Wherever we look, the supermarket shelves are filled with ever-more interesting and seductive homage to the world of spice and chilli pepper madness. Thai, Indian and spicy Chinese ready meals and menu dishes are the norm. They once reigned supreme the chicken-nugget, meat loaf and shepherd’s pie. If you live in the UK or in any major US or European city, you will find in your local yellow pages the address of at least one or, perhaps, many Indian restaurants – both eat-in and take-away.

The current restaurant scene in the UK

There are currently around 8000 Indian restaurants in the UK making one such eatery for every 6000, or so, of our total population. Given the demographic and geographic realities of this fact, there is almost sure to be an Indian Restaurant in every British small town or large village of 2000 or more inhabitants. Over two million people eat each week at Indian restaurants. Another three million households cooking at home some form of Indian food, purchased at their local supermarket.

Some of the main types of dishes

Really spicy hot stuff will be tackled head-on in the Madras or Vindaloo variations on the theme. Brave but occasionally foolish forkers, like me, will feel compelled to go for the Phal or Vindaloo, those macho show-off botty-crippling dishes which we become strangely ever-addicted to. Nothing disrupts a band sound-check like the pervasive after-effects of the Tarka Dhal (lentils and garlic).

One of the main dishes – Tandoori Chicken

If you’re a meat eater, Indian chicken dishes are the way to go for an inaugural main course. Tandoori Chicken is a particularly good option for people who like chicken wings and barbecue. Marinated overnight in yogurt and spices, anything made in a ‘tandoor’ is baked in a traditional Indian clay oven at more than 500F. The yogurt marinade makes the meat tender. The high heat of the oven seals in all the spices and juices. Tandoori chicken is a nice complement to other saucier curries. It is a dependable dish that won’t scare away an Indian cuisine newbie.

Basmati rice

Rice is a major staple in India, and there are many long and short-grained varieties. Basmati rice dishes are typically steamed or cooked in water. The flavour combinations are endless. Plain steamed basmati rice is satisfying on its own. More complex rice preparations like biryani provide layers of flavour. This is with slow-cooked meats combined with spices, saffron and roasted onions. Curries go particularly well with basmati rice — fluffy and fragrant, it compliments a range of dishes beautifully.

Overall

The testimonials shared by passionate food lovers as you talk about the food, staff, and ambiance of the Indian restaurant usually help people to get a picture of it before visiting the place. The happy lines penned by the previous customers will enhance your eagerness to try the Indian food at the restaurant. Taste the food and share your reviews with a few pictures to enlighten others about the cooking, quality, and quantity of food served.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here